MXPA02000672A

MXPA02000672A - Improved auxiliary thermal storage heating and air conditioning system for a motor vehicle.

Info

Publication number: MXPA02000672A
Application number: MXPA02000672A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller
Original assignee: Rocky Research
Priority date: 1999-07-20
Filing date: 2000-07-07
Publication date: 2002-08-30
Also published as: WO2001005610A1; CA2379352A1; CA2379352C; US6276166B1; AU759867B2; AU5925700A

Abstract

An auxiliary thermal storage heating and air conditioning system having an output for selectively delivering warm and cool air to the passenger area of a motor vehicle incorporates a reactor containing a metal salt or a complex compound formed by absorbing a polar gas refrigerant on a metal salt comprising a halide, nitrate, nitrite, oxalate, perchlorate, sulfate or sulfite of an alkali metal, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, zinc, cadmium, tin or aliminium, or sodium borofluoride or a double metal halide. In a preferred embodiment, the reactor contains a sorbent/substrate composition comprising a substrate material inert to the polar gas and incorporating the salt or the complex compound. One embodiment utilizes apparatus having a heat exchanger which selectively functions as an evaporator for a cooling mode and a condenser for a heating mode, and inside and outside coils for transferring system generated thermal energy. Another embodiment of the system uses a refrigerant circulatory system having a circuitous refrigerant line and an evaporator and condenser serially disposed within the circuitous line and a multi-channel ventilation system having a blower for forcing air through the channels of the system and to the output, the channels communicating with the evaporator, the condenser, and the reactor.

Description

SYSTEM OF AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING BY THERMAL ACCUMULATION, AUXILIARY, IMPROVED, FOR AUTOMOBIL Background of the Invention US Patent No. 5,901,572 discloses a thermal storage system which provides heating and cooling to the passenger compartment of the vehicle for extended periods of time when the vehicle engine is not operating. The described system comprises a circulating cooling system having a circular cooling conduit and an evaporator and condenser placed serially within the circular conduit operating to vaporize and condense a refrigerant fluid, respectively, a reactor containing a sorbent material to absorb the vaporized refrigerant in the fluid communication with the cooling duct, a heater in thermal communication with the sorbent, and a multi-channel ventilation system having a blower to force air through channels of the system and at the outlet, the channels communicating with the evaporator, the condenser and the reactor.

FEF: 135153 Brief Description of the Invention The improved auxiliary heating and air conditioning system of the present invention comprises the thermal accumulation system described in the aforementioned patent utilizing a solid-vapor sorption reactor containing a complex compound formed by adsorbing a polar gas, preferably ammonia, in a metal salt. In a preferred embodiment, the reactor contains a substrate material that incorporates the metal salt or the complex compound. The complex compounds that incorporate ammonia are capable of absorbing large quantities of the refrigerant, as well as having high reaction rates. By using a sorbent / substrate composition as described hereinafter, the system reactor offers improved performance and life expectancy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a view of a tractor of a truck with trailer vehicle having a passenger area divided into the cabin and pallet areas; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of an air conditioning and heating system i .it.áí.i iííit,:. ^ -..- ^ .- ^ - .. i ,,,,,., -..-. -t..i.t.a. auxiliary AJ of the thermal accumulation type of the reactor of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a portion of the system shown in Figure 2 for preheating a vehicle engine; and Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of an auxiliary heating and air conditioning system of the thermal accumulation type of the reactor of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 shows a tractor 10 of a truck vehicle with a trailer. The portion of the tractor 10 of the truck vehicle with trailer includes an interior space defining a passenger compartment 12 which is further divided, as by curtains 13, into a cabin area 14 and a 15-foot platform or bed area. of platform or bed can be used by the driver of vehicle 10 to make periodic rest breaks during long journeys. During the operation of the vehicle, the passenger compartment 12 is generally heated and cooled by an air conditioning and primary heating system which is driven by the engine (not shown) of the tractor 10. For heating, ? iiú.? ..? i ?? k¡ájA ..... *. *. , »> , --- tf-i? Y- -i the hot engine coolant is piped to the heat exchanger in the passenger compartment. For cooling, the motor drives a rotary compressor which comprises and drives coolant around a conventional air conditioning circuit which has an evaporator coil in the passenger compartment. During the rest breaks of the driver it is desirable to be able to turn off the engine of the tractor 10 to save fuel, reduce engine wear, and limit environmental pollution. Although the drawings illustrate the operation of the present system in connection with the passenger compartment of a truck-trailer vehicle, it can be used to heat and condition air in the passenger compartment of any type of automobile, therefore, include truck vehicles with trailer, cars, trucks, towing vehicle for camping, motor homes, recreational vehicles, buses, certain boats, and small airplanes or any areas of an automobile where passengers may be located such as, for example, the passenger compartment. passengers from a truck vehicle with a trailer, to the bed area of the passenger compartment of a truck with trailer, the maintenance area of an trailer vehicle for camping, mobile home, or recreational vehicle, and maintenance and sleeping quarters of certain vessels. In the following description, the terms absorb and absorption are used interchangeably with adsorbing and adsorption to refer to the same sorption reaction between a polar gas and a metal salt to form a complex coordinating compound. The heating and air conditioning systems of the invention incorporate and utilize a solid-vapor sorption reactor containing a complex compound formed by the absorption of a polar gas in a metal salt. The complex compounds are those described in US Patent No. Re. 34,259. During the absorption reaction the volumetric expansion of the complex compound formed is restricted as described in US Pat. Nos. 5,298,231 and 5,441,716. Preferred polar gaseous reagents are ammonia, water, lower alkanols (-C5), alkylamines, and polyamines. Sulfur dioxide, pyridine and phosphine can also be used. Ammonia is more preferred. Preferred metal salts include nitrates, nitrites, perchlorates, oxalates, sulfates, sulphides, and halides, particularly chlorides, bromides and iodides of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, particularly chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, tantalum and rowing, as well as zinc, cadmium, tin and aluminum. The double metal chloride or bromide salts, in which at least one of the metals is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, aluminum, chromium, copper, zinc, tin, manganese, iron, nickel or cobalt are also useful. Another salt of special interest is NaBF4. Other useful complex compounds are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,186,020 and 5,263,330. The preferred complex compounds used in the reaction of the invention are as follows or comprise adsorption / desorption compositions containing at least one of the following as a component. Although in the following complex compounds, numerical values of moles of ammonia ("X") are given per mole of salt, in some complexes, the given mole range comprises several coordination steps. For example, in the case of the NaBF compounds,;, a number of different reaction steps occur between the given numerical limits. However, typically, practical considerations only allow the use of a portion of the designated coordination interval. Accordingly, the following intervals are proposed so that approximate how they will be understood by those experts er -c technique.

Compound Complex Value X SrCl2 X (NH3) 0-1, 1-8 CaCl2 X (NHj) 0-1, 1-2, 2-4, 4-8 ZnCl; X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-4, 4-6 ZnBr2 X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-4, 4-6 Znl2 X (NH3) 0-1, 1- 2, 2-4, 4-6 CaBr2 X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6 CoCl2 X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6 CoBr- X (NH3) 0-1 , 1-2, 2-6 Col; X (NH3) 0-2, 2-6 MgCl X (NH \) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6 MgBr ^ X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6 Mgl, X (NH3) ) 0-2, 2-6 FeCl X (NH.) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6 FeBr X (NH ..) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6 Fel, X (NHJ 0- 2, 2-6 NiCl; X (NHj) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6 NiBr X (NH) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6 Nil X (NH 0-2, 2-6 Srl2 X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6, 6-8 SrBr2 X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-8 SnCl; X (NH3) 0-2.5, 2.5-4, 4-9 SnBr. X (NH3 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-5 5-9 BaBr? X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-4, 4-8 MnCl X (NHj) 0-1 , 1-2, 2-6 MnBr: X (NH 0-1, 1-2, 2-6 Mnl2 X (NH3) 0-2, 2-6 10 Cal X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-6, 6-8 CrCl "X (NH3) 0-3, 3-6 LiCl X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 LiBr X (NH3) 0-1, 1 -2, 2-3, 3-4 NaCl X (NH 0-5 15 NaBr X (NH 0-5.25 NaBF X (NH 0.5-2.5 Nal X (NH3) 0-4.5 K FeCl X (NH3) 0-5, 5-6, 6-11 K ZnCl X (NH.,) 0-5, 5-12 20 Mg (C10) X (NH3) 0-6 Mg (NO) X (NH3) 0-2, 2-4, 4-6 Sr (CIO) 2 X (NH3) 0-6, 6-7 CrBr X (NH5) 0-3 CrCl2 X (NH3) 0-3, 3-6 VC13 X (NH3) 0-3, 3-5, 5-6, 6-7, 7-12 A1C13 X (NH3) 0-1, 1-3, 3 -5, 5-6, 6-1, 7-14 CUSO; X (NH3) 0-1, 1-2, 2-4, 4-5 Especially preferred are any of the complexes of CaCl2 X (NH3), SrCl2-8 (NH,), SrBr2 2-8 (NH.), CaBr: 2-6 (NH <;), Cal2 2-6 (NH3), FeCl2 2-6 (NH3), FeBr2 2-6 (NH3), Fel 2-6 (NH3), CoCl2 2-6 (NH3), CoBr > 2-6 (NH.), BaCl 0-8 (NH.), MgCl 2 2-6 (NH 3), MgBr 2 2-6 (NH <), MnCl 2 2-6 (NH.) And MnBr 2-6 (NH .), and mixtures of two or more thereof. Preferred reactors used in the system incorporate the improvements described in US Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 304,763 filed May 4, 1999. More specifically, the space between the heat exchange surfaces of the reactor is substantially filled with a sorbent / substrate composition comprising a substrate material incorporating the metal salt or a complex compound produced from the metal salt and a polar gas. The substrate material incorporating the metal salt or complex compound may be a woven material such as a cloth or cloth, a nonwoven material such as felt, mat or similar material in which the strands or fibers have become entangled or otherwise mixed, twisted, pressed or packed form to form a coherent substrate. The woven fabric layers can be used between the non-woven layers of fibers, especially in composite materials of alternating woven and non-woven fiber layers. Thread, rope, or strip or substrate cloth tape can also be used for certain guiding heat exchange designs. Preferred, specific substrate materials include nylon polymers including non-aromatic nylons or polyamides, aromatic polyamides or aramides, glass fibers, and polyphenylene sulfides. Aramides are preferred for complex compounds that operate at reaction temperatures below about 150 ° C. For higher temperatures, glass fiber and polyphenylene sulfides are preferred, while at temperatures below about 120 ° C, polymeric materials based on nylon are also suitable. Aramides are not recommended at reaction temperatures below approximately 150 ° C. The substrate materials having a high thermal conductivity are advantageous since they improve the heat transfer properties of the ? .kk? L? TM _ ?? _ i. _Í. my . heat exchange sorbent core. The thermal conductivity of the aforementioned substrate materials can be improved by incorporating highly thermal conductive materials such as fibers, particulate materials, etc. into the substrate. In order to obtain high mass and thermodynamic efficiency of the substrate composition, it is desirable to use a physical form of the material which can be loaded with a high mass fraction of the sorbent. It is preferred that at least 50, and preferably 70%, and more preferably 85% or more, of the volume of the sorbent / substrate composition comprises the sorbent itself. Accordingly, a preferred substrate material for producing the sorbent / substrate composition of the invention has a porosity of about 50"or more and up to about 98. Examples of types of fabric used to meet such open porosity and volume requirements include Textile materials such as cloth, cloth, felt, mat, etc., commonly formed by weft or knitted fabric, as well as non-woven but cohesive forms such as block of fibrous or woven material and the like .. It has been found advantageous to use a material of substrate sufficiently gas permeable for the refrigerant gas to pass through and sufficiently low in pore size to prevent small salt particles from penetrating in. Although woven materials usually provide superior physical and structural uniformity, the use of fiber substrates non-woven and amorphous can provide for the more even distribution of the solid sorbent and n all the pores, spaces and interstices of the material. The sorbent is incorporated into the substrate material by embedding or otherwise combining the two components to form the sorbent / substrate composition that is installed in a sorption heat exchanger according to the invention. The preferred method for incorporating the sorbent in the substrate material is by impregnation. Such impregnation is carried out by any suitable means such as by spraying the substrate material with a liquid solution, slurry, slurry or mixture containing the sorbent or stirring the substrate in a liquid solution, slurry or suspension of the sorbent followed by the Removal of the solvent or carrier when drying or heating, and / or by applying a vacuum. Yet, another method for incorporating sorbent into the included substrate for embedding or otherwise distributing fine sorbent particles within the substrate using methods and techniques of blowing, blasting and bfafcjfcA-á- ^ a.iat ... «., Sintepzación. In addition, the particles can be directed into or combined with the substrate material in the period in which the felt or substrate fabric is manufactured, or subsequently. The sorbent can also be melted, for example, as a hydrate, and the liquid sorbent applied to the substrate after or during the manufacture of the substrate. It may be preferred to impregnate the substrate with the absorbent prior to installation in the reactor. However, the substrate can also be installed prior to being impregnated with the solution containing the absorbent salt. The mass diffusion path of the reactors is the distance that a gas molecule must travel between the gas distribution surface and the absorbent particle. The specific description and definition of the path length of mass diffusion is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,441,716. In reactors using ammonia as the refrigerant and compound complexes with ammonia, the average maximum mass diffusion path is preferably below about 15mm, which corresponds to the preferred average mass diffusion path length described in the aforementioned incorporated patent. The optimal dimensions are a function of the specific sorbents and refrigerants used in the process, and the operating pressures, pressures and approach temperatures as well as the charge density of the sorbent and the gas permeability of the substrate material. Preferred average mass diffusion path lengths are below about 15 mm and more preferably are below about 12 mm. The thermal diffusion or thermal path length is dependent on the distance between the adjacent heat exchange surfaces, more specifically, the distance of the highly thermal conductive surface closest to the center of the absorbent mass. For example, for a reactor of the type illustrated in Figure 7, the thermal path length is half the distance between adjacent ailerons. Preferably, the thermal path length is less than 4.5 mm, more preferably less than 4 mm and more preferably about 3.0 mm or less. Accordingly, for aileron tube heat exchanger designs, such as a thermal path length is equivalent to a reactor spoiler count of at least four ailerons per inch of the length (height) of the reactor module. The aileron counts of the reactor a,. *, h;? - a preferred are between about 9 and 25 ailerons per inch (1.4 mm at 0.5 mm of thermal path length). The core of the heat exchange sorbent can be further improved by the use of highly thermal conductive materials such as metals or carbon fibers. The incorporation of such materials or additives into the substrate materials will allow the use of aileron tube heat exchangers having a lower spoiler count or fewer spoilers per inch than otherwise described in the aforementioned patents. Accordingly, the substrate fabric or felt may contain, in its woven structure, thermally conductive metal, fiber or carbon or graphite particles. The use of such thermally conductive materials is particularly suitable and also preferable where the substrate material is of relatively low thermal conductivity. For example, fiberglass, known for its low thermal conductivity, will be substantially improved by incorporating such thermally conductive fibers. In Figure 2 schematically one embodiment of the single reactor heating and air conditioning system of the invention is illustrated. In the system, the reactor 120 comprises one or more reaction chambers containing a or a mixture of the aforementioned complex compounds which have been formed according to the previously described method. The construction of the reactor includes the inner reaction chambers or cores, the position or relative location of the ailerons to achieve the desired mass and thermal diffusion path lengths, the shapes and thicknesses of the ailerons as well as the Description of the means for directing the refrigerant gas in, through and from the reaction chambers are described in the aforementioned patents 5,328,671 and 5,298,231 and the North American patent application Serial No. 09 / 304,763. Although a single reactor is shown, a "reactor" may comprise a bank of two or more reactors. As shown in Figure 2, a circulatory cooling system is provided and includes a cooling duct 102 placed in a circular path. A condenser coolant 104 and evaporator 106 are spaced apart and placed in series within the circular path of the refrigerant line 102. The refrigerant circulated through the refrigerant conduit is vaporized by the evaporator 106 and subsequently condensed to the liquid form by the condenser 104. The circulation of the refrigerant is controlled by the refrigerant control valve 108. A blower 130 is provided to circulate air for the cooling and auxiliary heating system. A first air passage 110 is provided and positioned to filter the condenser 104. As is known, the condensation liquid releases the heat energy. Therefore, the air blown through the coils of the condenser 104 channels the air and thus transfers the heat generated by the condenser 104 to the environment as shown during the operation of the vehicle. A second air passage 112 is placed to filter the evaporator 106. The air blown by the blower 130 through the evaporator 106 generates a cold air stream (i.e., heat transferred from air to the evaporator 106) downstream of the evaporator 106 during the rest cycle of the vehicle. A third passage 114 is also provided and directed to distribute air through the reactor 120. Therefore, the air blown by the blower 130 through the reactor 120 heats the air and thus transfers the heat generated by the reactor 120 to the atmosphere or environment during the air conditioning cycle, and to the passenger platform or bed area during the heating cycle via the third passage 114.

K ??. A? ^ ?. < lu * -iá . . An electric heater element 122 electrically connected to the vehicle alternator can be used to heat the sorbent material within the reactor 120 while the vehicle is operated. NeverthelessIt will be appreciated that the alternative means can be provided to heat the sorbent material. For example, a segment of the engine cooling duct can be rolled and placed inside the rector 120 to heat the material. Alternatively, a segment of the engine oil system can be rolled or otherwise placed inside the sorbent container 120. When the oil is heated, together with the temperature of the engine, it serves to heat the reactor 120. In yet another alternative , a combustion chamber, lit by fuel used by the engine of the motor vehicle, can be used, such as diesel fuel, gasoline, natural gas, propane or other fuel source as previously described. As illustrated, the refrigerant line 102 is also passed through the reactor 120. The refrigerant in the vapor state is adsorbed on the solid sorbent material. During the discharge cycle, while the car is turned off, desorption occurs (as described above). A blower control valve 131, ÜÉ feS coolant check valves, 136 and 133, and coolant control valve 108 are also provided to facilitate the loading and unloading cycles of the illustrated mode. During the charging cycle of the illustrated embodiment, the blower control valve 131 is placed in position 1 as shown. The first check valve 136 is opened and the second check valve 133 and the coolant control valve 108 are closed. The refrigerant previously adsorbed in the sorbent material is desorbed and passed through the condenser 104 and liquefied. The output of the blower 130 is directed by the blower valve 131 through the first air passage 110 to bring heat from the condenser 104 to the environment. During the discharge cycle, the blower control valve 131 is placed in position 2 whereby the air flow of the blower 130 is directed through both passages 112 and 114. The control valve 108 of the refrigerant and the second check valve 133 opens and the first check valve 136 is closed. During this step, the liquid refrigerant stops through the evaporator to change from liquid to vapor state and is supplied to reactor 120 where it is absorbed. The air supplied through channel 112 is cooled when it passes through the evaporator 106. In contrast, the air passing through the reactor is heated. The auxiliary heating and cooling of the platform or passenger bed area 15 are controlled by the air control valve 131. When the control valve 131 is placed in the CC position as shown, the cooled air that is transferred to the downward passage 112 is sent to the passenger area 15 to provide auxiliary cooling while the hot air passing the air passage 114 of descent is expelled into the environment. On the other hand, if the control valve 131 is placed in the HH position then the hot air that is channeled through the lowering passage 114 is ejected into the passenger area 15 to provide auxiliary heating while the cooled air ribbed through the passageway. of descent 112 is expelled into the environment. The system illustrated in Figure 2 can be modified to incorporate a second blower to recirculate into the air while it has already cooled. The cooled inlet air can be mixed with external air, c recirculated through the system without using any external air. The previously described sorption technology can also be used to preheat the car in il-kA k- - * - A - ** - t «t.t -.- J - •« "-» tA "_ & -----. cold weather climates. In this regard, reference is made to Figure 3, which shows a portion of the system described in Figure 2. More particularly, the reactor 120 can be placed in connection with a circular cooling duct 102 and the air passage 114 as Described above. However, a conduit 100 of the vehicle cooling system is also placed in connection with the reactor 120. A flow valve 101 and the fluid pump 105 are placed in series with the cooling conduit 100 to control the fluid flow here completely. As illustrated schematically (and as is known), the refrigerant passage 100 passes through the motor 108 of the vehicle. A second flow valve 109 is also provided to control the flow of fluid to other components such as a radiator and heater (not shown). While the vehicle is started, the sorbent material inside the reactor 120 is charged to store thermal energy, as described in connection with Figure 2. In cold weather climates, after the engine has been shut off by a For a period of time, it may be desirable to preheat the engine before the start of the vehicle. In this regard, the thermal energy stored in reactor 120 is LI-A ^ M-tf "*" * -! The "A" can be transferred to heat the engine coolant inside the refrigerant conduit 100. The pump 105 can then circulate the refrigerant through the engine 108., to preheat the engine before starting. Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of yet another embodiment using the aforementioned absorption refrigeration technology for use in the heating and cooling of a passenger compartment of the automobile. In the illustrated embodiment, a single reactor 175 contains a complex compound sorbent as previously described. The reactor comprises one or more reaction chambers containing one or a mixture of the aforementioned complex compounds which have been formed according to the previously described method. The construction of the reactor that includes the inner reaction chambers or cores, the relative positioning and positioning of the ailerons to achieve the desired mass and thermal diffusion path lengths, the shapes and thicknesses of the aileron as well as the description of the means for directing the refrigerant gases in, through and from the reaction chambers are as previously described in U.S. Patents 5,328,671 and 5,328,671 and 5,298,231 and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 304,763. In the specific single reactor embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, a thermal accumulation heater / coolant system is operated when the reactor desorbates ammonia, or other polar gas refrigerant, to the heat exchanger 173 via the refrigerant directing the conduit or pipe 187. The solenoid valve 178 is selectively operated to allow the refrigerant to pass between the reactor 175 and the heat exchanger 173. The heat exchanger 173 alternately acts as a condenser and an evaporator for the refrigerant, which functions as a condenser during the Charge phase when the refrigerant desorbed from the reactor is directed to the heat exchanger, where it is condensed. The refrigerant is maintained in the condensed liquid phase in the heat exchanger, or in a container, not shown, until a cooling function is required. For the cooling of the passenger compartment, the refrigerant is evaporated in the heat exchanger 173 and the steam is directed back to the reactor 175 in this period is absorbed in the relatively cold sorbent. The heat exchanger 173 and the reactor 175 both include the heat transfer sections through which a heat transfer fluid is calculated. Suitable heat transfer fluids include ethylene glycol-agaa, propylene glycol-water, or equivalent antirefrigerant compositions known in the art. The heat transfer fluid exchanges heat with the sorbent in the reactor 175 and the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 173. An outdoor coil 172 exchanges heat or thermal energy with the environment or atmosphere, while the internal coil 171 selectively heats or cools the passenger compartment 170. Each of the indoor and outdoor coils is also provided with a blower or fan, schematically illustrated, which assists in the heat exchange of the coils. As previously noted, a "reactor" may comprise a bank of two or more reactors. The apparatus of the system illustrated in Figure 4 also includes several control valves such as synchronized 4-way valves 181 and 182 and recirculation pumps 176 and 177. The valves and pumps provide the circulation and direction of the heat transfer fluid via the heat transfer fluid pipe 174, which communicates with reactor 175 and evaporator 173, and indoor and outdoor coils 172 and 171, respectively. ÍAJ-ÜÍ & É - - ** ...... A - t - a. «. Afe-isJ: In the embodiment shown, the sorbent in the reactor 173 is heated by an electric resistive heating element 190 driven by the vehicle alternator as described in the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Other averages for heating the reactor to drive the desorption reaction they include heating the complex compound by directly igniting the sipper tubes or by using heat from the hot combustion gases from a liquid fuel or gas combustion chamber. Alternatively, the sorbent can be heated by hot engine oil or coolant heated from the vehicle's cooling system with a heat exchange coil placed in heat transfer contact with the sorbent in the reactor. The illustrated system can be operated selectively or operate automatically depending on the outside ambient temperature and the selective heating or cooling requirements of the passenger compartment. A microprocessor can be used in cooperation with thermostats with monitor at both passenger compartment temperatures, internal, as well as external ambient temperature. Accordingly, a system can be operated automatically depending on the desired temperature selected within the passenger compartment, íhÁ? jk? i? a? iMa? .íii ?. and depending of the external ambient temperature. The rejection of heat from the heat exchanger 173 when operating as a condenser is transferred to the environment through the external coil by the circulation of the heat transfer fluid driven by the pumps and the reactor 175 is cooled by the heat transfer fluid from the outer coil to start the absorption of the refrigerant in the sorbent. The system can also be used for preheating the engine in cold weather conditions using heat rejected from the absorption reactor 175. In this period of engine preheating, the heat exchanger 173 receives heat of another form supplied by the external coil through the recirculation of the activated coolant by the other of the two pumps. To facilitate installation, repair, and replace any of the heating and air conditioning systems of the present invention, it may have a modular design. For example, the slurry cooling system shown in Figures 2 and 4 can be located in an auxiliary heating and air conditioning module 96 that is mounted on the exterior of the vehicle as shown in Figure 1. Module 96 is interconnected with the heat exchanger 20 in the passenger compartment i. *? 12 via the circulatory systems of the heat transfer fluid, primary and secondary. As also shown in Figure 1, the module 96 can be substantially in the form of a rectangular enclosure which can be easily mounted to the frame of the tow truck vehicle 10 back to the bed area 15 of the cabin. If the system is designed with the characteristics given in the example described above, the system can be contained in a module that is no larger than 5 cubic feet (cm). In addition, in the position shown in Figure 1, the module 96 can also be located just behind the bed area 15 on the opposite side of the frame or could be mounted to the exterior of the rear part of the passenger compartment 12. Since the air conditioning and heating is located mainly outside the passenger compartment 12 of the vehicle, you can access the system by arrangements very easily without having to enter the vehicle or open the engine compartment. The modular design and exterior location also make it easier to retro-fit the trucks in stock with the system since there is no space to be made inside the compartments for the passenger or motor. Similarly, the modular design of the system makes the system easily be replaced with another system when the system needs to be fixed. In addition, when opposed to auxiliary air conditioning and heating systems having significant components connected to the motor, connected to the primary air conditioning system, c located in the engine compartment, the external location of the module 96 avoids the possibility of any interference with the normal operation of the vehicle.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. m .iiii? .-ttAaJ ifc ^ -..- »-« - »-. ^ j-» t ^. ^ .j. . i * _ * - .. > * »N * > .ae-taj.-

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. An auxiliary heating and air conditioning system having an outlet for selectively supplying hot and cold air to the passenger area of an automobile, comprising: a circulating cooling system having a circular cooling duct and an evaporator and condenser placed in series within the circular duct operative to vaporize and condense a cooling fluid therein, respectively, one or more reactors comprising heat exchange surfaces having space among them containing a metal salt or a complex compound formed by the absorption of a polar gas refrigerant in a metal salt, the metal salt comprising a halide, nitrate, nitrite, oxalate, perchlorate, sulfate or sulphite of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, zinc, cadmium, this or aluminum, or sodium borofluoride or a double metal halide, the reactor in the fluid communication with the cooling duct, a heater in the thermal communication with the metal salt and the complex compound, a multi-channel ventilation system that it has a blower for forcing air through the channels 5 of the system and at the outlet, the channels communicating with the evaporator, the condenser, and the reactor, and wherein the system is characterized by the reactor having space between at least one portion of the substantially filled heat exchange surfaces 10 with a sorbent / substrate composition comprising a substrate material inert to the polar gas and incorporating the salt or mixtures of two or more thereof, or the complex compound. 2. A system according to claim 15 1, characterized in that the substrate material comprises yarn, cord, felt or cloth. 3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the substrate material has a porosity of between about 50 * and about 20 98% prior to incorporating the metal salt. 4. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metal salt or compound complex comprises at least 50% by volume of the C-sorbent / substrate composition. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metal salt or complex compound comprises at least 85% by volume of the sorbent / substrate composition. 6. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the polar gas is water, an amine, an alcohol or ammonia. 7. A system in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the salt is a mixture of alkali metal, alkaline earth, or transition salts. 8. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a tube with ailerons or plate heat exchanger. 9. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that it has an average mass diffusion path length of 15 mm or less. 10. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a thermal diffusion path length of 4 mm or less. 11. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the substrate material comprises glass fiber. 12. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the substrate material comprises polyphenylene sulfide. 13. A system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the substrate material comprises nylon or aromatic polyamide. 14. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a blower valve within the multi-channel ventilation system to direct the flow of air from the blower through the condenser, during a charging cycle. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the blower valve is operative to direct the flow of air from the blower through both the evaporator and the reactor during a discharge cycle, wherein the air passing through The reactor is heated and the air passing through the evaporator is cooled. 16. The system according to claim 15, characterized in that it includes a valve t, it.?.? * «-» - ». -im ijiiHÉ-ii II MM * "~ * uí .i.JLt_¿ of operational output to controllably direct the air passing through the reactor to an area of the passenger of the automobile and to the environment space outside the passenger area 17. The system according to claim 16, characterized in that the outlet valve is also operative to controllably direct the air passing through the evaporator to the passenger area of the automobile and to the space of the environment outside the area of the vehicle. passenger 18. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the heater comprises an electrical heating resistance 19. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the heater comprises a heating element in fluid communication with the vehicle cooling system 20. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the heater comprises a heating element in fluid communication with the vehicle's oil system. 21. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the heater comprises a heater ignited by fuel. 22. The system according to claim 21, characterized in that the heater is ignited by diesel fuel and includes a tank for diesel fuel to supply the diesel fuel to the heater and the engine of the vehicle. 23. The system according to claim 21, characterized in that the heater is propane burned and includes a propane tank to supply fuel thereto. 24. The system according to claim 21, characterized in that the heater is burned gasoline and includes a fuel tank to supply fuel to the heater and to the motor of the automobile. 25. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the complex compound is formed by restricting the volumetric expansion thereof during absorption of the polar gas coolant in the metal salt. 26. An auxiliary heating and air conditioning system that has an outlet to supply selectively hot and cold air to the passenger area of a motor vehicle comprising: One or more reactors comprising heat exchange surfaces having space therebetween which contains a metal salt or a complex compound formed by the absorption of a refrigerant of polar gas on a metal salt, the meta salt consists of a halide, nitrate, nitrite, oxalate, perchlorate, sulfate or sulphite of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, zinc, cadmium, tin or aluminum, or borofluoride of sodium or a double metal halide, and a heater in thermal communication with the metal salt and the complex compound, a heat exchanger to selectively operate as a condenser and an evaporator, respectively, a first heat exchange coil in communication of heat transfer with the passenger area of a car, and a second heat exchange coil for the transfer of thermal energy from outside the passenger area, the first pipe that communicates with the reactor, the heat exchanger, the first heat exchange coil and the second heat exchange coil to direct the heat transfer fluid between them, and JatÉár't AAi í tí É. the second pipe to direct the refrigerant between the reactor and the heat exchanger, the system is characterized in that the reactor has spaces between at least a portion of the substantially filled heat exchange surfaces with a sorbent / substrate composition comprising a material . of substrate inert to the polar gas and that incorporates the salt or mixtures of two or more of them, or the complex compound. 27. A system according to claim 26, characterized in that it includes one or more pumps that cooperate with the first pipe for pumping the heat transfer fluid therein. 28. A system according to claim 27, characterized in that it includes one or more valves that cooperate with the first pipe to selectively direct the heat transfer fluid between the heat exchanger, the reactor and the first and second heat exchange coils. 29. A system according to claim 26, characterized in that the substrate material comprises yarn, cord, felt or cloth. 30. A system according to claim 26 or 29, characterized in that the substrate material has ^^ 2? JB_ÉI__ÉÍJ_ _ & _ £ _! It has a porosity of approximately 50% and approximately 98% prior to the incorporation of the metal salt. 31. A system according to claim 26 or 29, characterized in that the complex compound or metal salt comprises at least 50% by volume of the sorbent / substrate composition. 32. A system according to claim 26 or 29, characterized in that the complex compound or metal salt comprises at least 85% by volume of the sorbent / substrate composition. 33. A system according to claim 26 or 29, characterized in that the substrate material comprises glass fiber. 34. A system according to claim 26 or 29, characterized in that the substrate material comprises polyphenylene sulfide. 35. A system according to claim 26 or 29, characterized in that the substrate material comprises nylon or aromatic polyamide. 36. A system in accordance with the claim 1, which includes the apparatus for preheating the vehicle engine before starting the vehicle characterized in that it additionally comprises: - - *. Sate a cooling pipe in communication with the reactor, a heat exchanger to transfer the thermal energy stored in complex compound to the cooling pipe segment, and a fluid pump placed in series inside the cooling pipe to communicate the cooling fluid in all, whereby the thermal energy transferred from the complex compound to the cooling conduit is then circulated through the engine to preheat the engine before it starts, and wherein the reactor has the space between at least a portion of the heat exchange surfaces substantially filled with a sorbent / substrate composition comprising a substrate material inert to the polar gas and incorporating the salt or mixtures of two or more of this, or the complex compound. 37. A system in accordance with the claim 36, characterized in that the complex compound is formed by restricting the volumetric expansion of this during the absorption of the polar gas refrigerant in the metal sai. í -?.?, A_-i. ^^^^^^ t SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An auxiliary thermal accumulation and heating system having an outlet for the selective supply of hot and cold air to the passenger area of a car incorporates a reactor (120, 175) containing a metal salt or a complex compound formed by the absorption of a polar gas refrigerant in a metal salt comprising a halide, nitrate, nitrite, oxalate, perchlorate, sulfate or sulphite of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, metal of transition, zinc cadmium, tin with aluminum, or sodium borofluoride or a double metal halide. In a preferred embodiment, the reactor contains a sorbent / substrate composition comprising a substrate material inert to the polar gas and incorporating the salt or complex compound. One embodiment uses apparatuses having a heat exchanger (173) which selectively functions as an evaporator for a cooling mode and a condenser for a heating mode, and internal and external coils for transferring thermal energy generated by the system. Another embodiment of the system uses a circulating cooling system having a circular cooling duct and an evaporator (106) and condenser (104) placed in series within the duct ___ * __.! _____________ circular and a multi-channel ventilation system having a blower (130) to force air through the channels of the system and into the outlet, the channels communicating with the evaporator, the condenser, and the reactor (120). oU .1